Cushioning mechanism



Patented July `7, 1.953

CUSHIONING MECHANISM Hubert L. Spence,Y East Cleveland, and Donald Willison, Shaker Heights,.0hio, assignors to National Malleable and Steel Castings C0111-, pany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 9, 1947, Serial No. 747,014

s claims. (c1. zei- 9) I This invention relates to cushioning mechan'ism particularly adaptable for use in railway vehicles.

AAn object of our invention is 'to provide a cushioning-V mechanism in which resilient material such as rubber is associated with friction generating means in a novel manner.

' Another obj ect `is to provide a cushioning mechanism having rubber means for cushioning shocks as Well as for actuating the'associated friction generating means. vv,

'RA further object is to` provide a cushioning mechanism in which a single block of rubber serves to cushion shocks and also simultaneously to actuate the associated friction members.

A more specific object is Vto provide a cushioning mechanism comprising a pair of friction members with rubber means therebetween adapted-.to cushion shocks and to urge the members laterally into engagement with associated friction surfaces.

A still further object is to 'provide a cushioning mechanism comprising relatively 'movable friction members having opposed sloping plane surfaces and a rubber block interposed between the surfaces adapted to cushion shocks applied to the mechanism and to 'urge the members into engagement with associated friction surfaces.

Other objects'and radvantages of 'our invention will be apparent from theifollowing descrip- 'f means I4 for opposing movement ofy shoe I2. lengthwise of member I0, a key IIS` forretaining shoe I2 in assembled relation and for Ymaintaining vspring I4 under predetermined initial compression, a friction shoe I8 alsoslidably engaging an inner surface of member I0, .and rubber lcushion unit interposed between the opposed slopingsurfaces of shoes I2 and I8.

Housing member IIJ comprisestop .andbottom Walls and 25 respectively, joined by an end wall 21 which serves as an abutment'for springs I4 carried within the member. Springs. I4 'preferably comprise two pairs of inner and outer'col springs positioned in parallel. Withinmember I0 and slidably engaging inner surfaces 30 of top wall 25 is wedge-shaped friction shoe I2 adapted for movement lengthwise of memberY I0 against the resistance of springs I4. Shoe I2 is preferably formed with angularly disposed friction surfaces 3I in engagement with surfaces 30 which are similarly disposed. Baseportion. 32 `ofthe shoe engages springs I4 and is providedtwitha projection 33 for positioning the springs. 'Shoe I2 is provided with a Wedge face 45 which slopes upwardly from adjacent base 32 towardk thev outer end of the shoe and provides a bearing surface for rubber cushion unit 20. In order that apredetermined amount of compression may be applied to springs I4, openings in sidewalls 36 of the housing member, and openings 31 in shoe I2 are provided for the reception ofa key I6 which engages surfaces 40 of openings 35 and surfaces 4I of openings 31. Openings 35 and 31 are so positioned that with key Iin place as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 springs I4 are compressed a predetermined amount, the amount of such initial compression being determined by the type of l cushioning action desired. This will be explained later in this specication. It will` be observed also thatkey I6 serves to retain shoe I2 inassem-bled relation within housing I0. f

Unit 20 preferably-comprises a rubber block vsandwiched between a pair of plates 41 which are vulcanized or `otherwise bonded to therubber. Friction shoe I8 which is adapted to move lengthwiser of housing I0 isv also wedge-shaped and has a sloping face 50 opposing face 45 of shoe I2 in engagement with plate 41 of unit 20. Shoe I8 also preferably has a pair of angularly disposed surfaces 5I which slidably engage complementary inner surfaces 52 of housing I0. It will be apparent that as shoe I8 is moved 'longitudinally inwardly so as to compress rubber block 46 both shoes I2 and IB will be urged outwardly againstA surfaces 30 and 52 respectively.. Furv thermore, the rubber will be subjectedto combined compression and shearing stresses as` shoes I2v and I8 move relatively to one anotheriin a longitudinal direction. l

Cushion unit 20 is prevented from sliding relativelyA to shoes I2 and I8 upon movement inwardly of shoe I8 by shoulders 54 and 55 which engage the ends of plates l41. Units 20 arelpositioned laterally ofthe mechanism by means vof upstanding fianges 56 on shoe IB.

Movement ofshoe I8in alongitudinal direc- Vpressedso that stop 51 engages lug 58.

58 and allow sucient inward movement of shoe- I2 so that when shoe I8 is moved inwardly its total travel (ange 59 engaging surface 60) and with stop 51 in engagement with lug 58, a clearcushioning action of the mechanism will be as follows:

As shoe I8 is urged inwardly of the housing, the rubber, not being under initial compression, will be compressed a slight amount until the initial compression of springs I4 has been overcome and they begin tofcompress. It will be observed that substantially atthe start both shoes move inwardly. Compression of springs I4 in response to the movement of the shoes continues until lug 58 engages surface 62 of the ance will exist between surface 62A and surface I 63 of lug 58. In other words the sum of rthe spacing between lug 58 and surface 52 onth`eV one side thereof and stop 51 on the other side is greater than the spacing between flange 59 and surface 68 so that lug 58 cannot engage simultaneously surface $2 and stop 51.

I'The operational characteristics of the mechanism, aswill be evident from an inspection of Figs. l and 2, are dependent largely upon the relative capacities of springs I4 and rubber cushion unit 20, and the service to which the mechanism will be subjected will determine the characteristics desired. Assuming merely for purposes of illustration .thatit is desired to have the rubber absorb the comparatively Vlight blows applied to the mechanism and springs I4 to cushion the heavy forces applied thereto, the rubber will, therefore, be of less capacity than thesprings. The operation of the mechanism vwill then be as follows:

As a force is applied to the mechanism that will move shoe I8 in a lengthwise direction inwardly relatively to housing member III the initial action will be to subject the rubber to combined compression and shear. It will also be assumed that the initial compression exerted on springs I4 by key I6 will be such that shoe I2 will remain stationary throughout the period the rubber is being compressed. As the rubber resists the inward movement of shoe I8, both shoes I2 and I8 are urged laterally into increasing engagement with inner surfaces 38 and 52, respectively, of housing Ill and the friction generated between surfacesy 5I and 52 serves to oppose further inward movement of the shoe. Movement of shoe I8 .continues against Vthe resistance of the rubber and the increasing frictional force until stop 51 engages lug 58 of shoe I2. Thereupon further working of the rubber is stopped, thus protecting it lfrom possible damage. Thel engagement between stop 51 and lug 58 now causes shoe I2 to move with shoe I8 as the latter continues movement inwardly. This movement is now resisted by springs I4 and the friction produced between both` shoes and the housing member andY continues until flange 59 engages end surface 60. v

As abovedescribed the initial compression applied to springs I4 is sufficient to preclude movement of-shoe I2 until the rubber has been com This provides Ycomparatively soft cushioning action bythe rubber for absorbing light blows and shocks, while springs I4 plus the additional friction between shoe I2V and the lhousing member are available to cushion heavy shocks.

In Ythe event it is desired to have the rubber unit'of greater capacity than springs I4, which can lbe done by decreasing the capacity of the springsy or Aincreasing the .rubber hardness, the

housing'precluding further compression of the springs and from then on the rubber and the friction between shoe I8 and the housing resist inwardmovement of shoe I8. Finally engage- Y ment between flange 59 and surface 60 limits further cushioning action. In this case stop 51 will not engage lugl 58. v

It is to be understood that while the operation of the `cushioning mechanism has been described irst by employing the rubber cushion to absorb light shocks and secondly `having the springs I4 cushion the light shocks, it may be desirable to have the rubber cushion and springs I4 so proportioned that the operational characteristics of the device will fall somewhere between the two described above. For example, the balance between the capacity of springs I4 and the rubber may be arranged in such a manner that as shoe I8 is urged inwardly, lengthwise of housing I0, both springs rubber will be compressed. substantially simultaneously throughout the travel of the mechanisn. Y

It will be observed that spaces B5, I'and 61 adjacent rubber block 46` are provided to allow the rubber to ow during compression of the mechanism.v Also, the sides and ends of the block have been undercut slightly to preserve the bond between the rubber and plates 41 when the rubber is compressed and to allow greater space for expansion of the rubber.

' The terms and expressions which wehave em ployed are used as terms of description and not of limitationfand we have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown `and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What we claim isz,I

1. In a cushioning mechanism, opposed wedge members arranged longitudinallyof one another and adapted for relative movement in a longitudinal direction, said members having wedge surfaces extending in overlapping relationship in a direction lengthwise and crosswise of said mechanism, a rubber pad of substantial thickness interposed between said wedge surfaces and in engagementtherewithfor resisting said relative movement and for exerting a lateral force against said members, means associated with said members for conning said members against lateral movement during relative longitudinal. movement thereof, and stops on said wedge members for engagement withsaid means to limit longitudinal movement of saidl members relative to said means.

2. In a cushioning mechanism a housing member having inner friction surfaces, a friction shoe withinsaid member engaging one of 'said surfaces and being movable lengthwise of said member, spring means reacting against said housing member and said shoe for-resisting said lengthwise movement of said shoe, stop means carried by said member and engaging said shoe for main- I4 and Y the' taining said spring means under initial compression, another friction shoe within said member engaging other of said friction surfaces and being movable lengthwise of said member, said shoes having opposed sloping surfaces, and a resilient pad between said opposed surfaces.

3. In a cushioning mechanism a housing member having angularly disposed inner friction surfaces, an inner friction shoe engaging part of said surfaces and being movable longitudinally of said member, spring means within said housing member for opposing longitudinal movement of said shoe, an outer friction shoe engaging other of said surfaces and being movable longitudinally of said member, said shoes having opposed wedge faces, a resilient pad of substantial thickness interposed between said faces and in engagement therewith for cushioning relative movement between said shoes and for urging said shoes laterally against said friction surfaces on said member, and means for maintaining said spring means under initial compression, said means comprising a transversely extending member extending through said inner friction shoe and received in slotted openings in said housing member.

4. In a cushioning mechanism a pair of relatively movable wedge members, one of said members being disposed forwardly of the other member, a housing member for containing said wedge members, said wedge members engaging the inner surface of said housing member and being movable longitudinally relative thereto, spring means Within said housing member reacting against an end wall thereof and against the rearward one of said wedge members for opposing movement of said rearward wedge member longitudinally Vrelative to said housing member, a resilient pad of substantial thickness interposed between said wedge members and in engagement therewith for transmit-ting longitudinal forces from said forward wedge member to said rearward wedge member and to urge said wedge members laterally against said housing member.

5. In a cushioning mechanism a housing member, a wedge member within said housing member and in longitudinal slidable engagement therewith, spring means within said housing member for opposing movement of said wedge member relative to said housing member, a follower wedge member within said housing member and in slidable engagement therewith, said follower wedge member being in longitudinally spaced opposed relation to said first named wedge member, and a resilient pad interposed between said wedge members for opposing movement of said follower wedge member longitudinally toward said first named wedge member and for urging said wedge members laterally against said housing member.

6. In a cushioning mechanism a housing member, a friction shoe engaging said member and being movable lengthwise thereof, spring means carried by said housing member for opposing said lengthwise movement of said shoe, said shoe having a diagonally disposed surface, another fric-f tion shoe engaging said housing kmember and movable lengthwise thereof, said last named shoe having a diagonally disposed surface parallel to and facing said surface on said rst named shoe, a resilient pad of substantial thickness between said diagonal surfaces on said shoes adapted to cushion relative movement therebetween and to urge said shoes laterally against said housing member.

7. In a cushioning mechanism a housing member, a friction shoe within said member andengaging the inner surface thereof, said shoe being movable lengthwise of said member, spring means carried by said member for opposing move,- ment of said shoe lengthwise of said member, an outer friction shoe extending into said member and engaging the inner surface thereof, said outer shoe being movable lengthwise of said member, said shoes having opposed parallel sloping surfaces, and a resilient pad of substantial thickness interposed between said sloping surfacesand being subjectedY to combined compression and shearing stresses -upon inward movement of said ber, forward and rearward wedge members in said housing member, said wedge members engaging the inner surface of said housing member and being movable in a direction longitudinally thereof, spring means carried by said housing member for opposing said longitudinal movement of the wedge members, said wedge members having opposed sloping surfaces, a resilient pad between said sloping'surfaces and in engagement therewith for opposing movement of said forward Wedge member towardsaid rearward wedge member and for urging the wedge members laterally against said housing member, and stop means on said forward wedge member for engaging said rearward wedge member to limit movement of said forward wedge member toward said rearward wedge member.

HUBERT L. SPENCE.

DONALD WILLISON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 736,724 Handiges Aug. 18, 1903 754,594 McKeen Mar. l5, 1904 754,679 Moore Mar. 15, 1904 815,049 Tower Mar. 13, 1906 1,008,670 OConnor Nov. 14, 1911 1,255,214 OConnor Feb. 5, 1918 1,884,520 Barrows Oct. 25, 1932 2,141,680 Barrows Dec. 2'7, 1938 2,211,463 Hobson Aug. 13, 1940 2,216,231 Dentlr Oct. l, 1940 2,286,861 Light June 16, 1942 2,306,398 lLight Dec. 29, 1942 2,352,030 Sproul June 20, 1944 V2,381,404 Cottrell Aug. 7, r1945 

